Mick Jagger Says Being a Teacher Would Have Rocked Him, Too

If he hadn’t founded The Rolling Stones more than 50 years ago, Mick Jagger would have been plenty happy as a school teacher, he told BBC Radio.

Jagger, 69, said his career as the frontman of arguably the greatest rock 'n' roll band in history has not been all that intellectually stimulating, and he would have gotten more satisfaction from a different occupation.

"You're a rock icon, whether you like it or not. And you have been for a long time and that's been your life," BBC Radio host John Humphrys said to Jagger. "Is there a moment when you say to yourself, 'God I wish I'd done something else?'"

"I wish in a way I'd had more control of my life because I imagine doing what you've done, although it's just about everyone's dream, it's left you with very few choices, the path of your life has been decided for you, I mean you set out to do it," Jagger said. "A school teacher would have been very gratifying I'm sure, you know, there're millions of things that you would have loved to have done, a politician, a journalist, I thought of being a journalist once.

"Obviously you would have liked to have done, everyone wants to have done more things in their lives. But it's a slightly intellectually, undemanding being a rock singer but you know you make the best of it."

The Rolling Stones served as one of the headlining acts at the Glastonbury Festival over the weekend, performing a 20-song set that included hits like "Paint It Black," "Wild Horses," and "Gimme Shelter."
Related stories: